The winter is the coldest time of the year in Eastern
Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. With high temperatures
usually in the mid 40s to lower 50s and overnight lows in
the 20s and 30s, the winter months are chilly but
bearable. Outbreaks of very cold temperatures sometimes
occur sending temperatures below zero on occassion, but
these extreme cold spells are often short-lived. Winter
is also the driest season in Northwest Arkansas and
Eastern Oklahoma. Although total precipitation is less
than other times of the year, the area does average a few
inches of snow each month with the majority of it falling
on just a handful of days. Heavy snows are rare, but
snows of six or more inches affect the region from
time-to-time and are slightly more common in the higher
elevations of Northwest Arkansas.
The
following tables summarize the kind of weather usually
seen during the winter months and the weather extremes
the area has experienced in years gone by. Also, don't
forget that...
Winter officially begins on Thursday,
December 21st, 2006 at 6:22 PM CST
WINTER
CLIMATOLOGY
TULSA
FORT
SMITH
Dec
Jan
Feb
Dec
Jan
Feb
Average High Temperature
50
46
53
51
48
55
Average Low Temperature
30
26
31
31
27
33
Average Mean Temperature
40
36
42
41
38
44
Record High Temperature
80
82
90
82
81
87
Record Low Temperature
-8
-16
-15
-5
-11
-15
Average Days Below 32 Degrees
20
23
17
20
24
17
Average Snowfall
1.9
3.0
2.3
0.9
3.0
1.7
Record Snowfall *
11.4
12.7
10.1
7.0
12.9
14.0
Average Rainfall
2.43
1.60
1.95
3.39
2.37
2.70
Record Rainfall *
8.70
6.74
5.74
10.09
11.33
9.21
Record Rainfall in 24 hours *
3.27
2.25
4.34
5.78
5.42
4.45
Record Least Rainfall *
0
0
0
0.09
0.20
0.14
Average Number of Rain Days
5
5
6
8
7
8
Average Thunderstorm Days
1
1
1
2
1
2
Average Wind Speed (in mph)
9.7
9.6
10.3
8.0
8.0
8.6
Average Sunshine
53%
54%
56%
50%
50%
56%
Mid-Month Time Of Sunrise
727 am
734 am
710 am
719 am
726 am
704 am
Mid-Month Time Of Sunset
510 pm
533 pm
604 pm
507 pm
529 pm
600 pm
Average Heating Degree Days
802
915
691
745
851
611
Average Cooling Degree Days
0
0
0
0
0
0
Temperatures
are reported in Fahrenheit
Rainfall and snowfall totals are reported in inches
*Snowfall and rainfall records for Fort Smith since 1945
(See
climate data for each station for time period of record.)
WINTER
CLIMATOLOGY
MCALESTER
FAYETTEVILLE
Dec
Jan
Feb
Dec
Jan
Feb
Average High Temperature
53
50
56
48
44
51
Average Low Temperature
32
28
33
28
24
29
Average Mean Temperature
42
39
45
38
34
40
Record High Temperature
80
80
85
78
77
83
Record Low Temperature
-5
-14
-6
-14
-23
-24
Average Days Below 32 Degrees
18
22
15
22
23
18
Average Snowfall
0.9
3.0
2.2
1.0
2.2
2.2
Average Rainfall
2.99
2.28
2.75
3.20
2.14
2.41
Mid-Month Time Of Sunrise
724 am
730 am
709 am
720 am
726 am
703 am
Mid-Month Time Of Sunset
513 pm
535 pm
605 pm
504 pm
526 pm
558 pm
Average Heating Degree Days
711
809
580
840
953
710
Average Cooling Degree Days
0
0
0
0
0
0
Temperatures
are reported in Fahrenheit
Rainfall and snowfall totals are reported in inches
(See
climate data for each station for time period of record.)
National Weather Service
Tulsa, OK
10159 E. 11th St. Suite 300
Tulsa, OK 74128
918-838-7838
Page Author: WFO Tulsa, OK
Web Master's Email:sr-tsa.webmaster@noaa.gov
Page last modified:
January 12, 2006
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National Weather Service Forecast Office
